Textile-treating machine



March 2 1926. 1,575,085

0. s. WRIGHT TEXTILE TREATING momma Filed August 4, 1922 s Sheets-Sheet2 wrewg I ATTORNEYS.

March 2 Q1926. 1,575,085

0. S. WRIGHT TEXTILE TREATING MACHINE Filed August 4, 1922 3 Sheets$heet5 pooOOOoOoOoooOoooo oooooopoooooooooooo qoooooooooooooooooooooooooo-ooooooooo oooooooooooooooooo oo oooooooooooooooooopooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooobooo'oo ooooo'poooooooooooo 000000000000 0 6 ma IN V EN TOR:

WITNESSES Oliver/3 I B y W L I ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 2, 1926.

PATENT OFFICE.

OLIVER S. WRIGHT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

TEXTILE-TREATIN G MACHINE.

Application filed. August 4, 1922. Serial No. 579,552.

To all 7,0720771 it may concern:

Be it known that I, OLIVER S. \Vnrerrr, a citizen of Canada, residing atPhiladelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Textile lr-eatingMachines, whereof the following is a specification, reference being hadto the ac companying drawings.

This invention relates to textile treating machines and more especiallyto clothes washing machines of the power operated type. and theprincipal object of the invention is to provide a non-complex andefiicient driving or power translating mechanism adapted to be operatedby an electric motor to oscillate the textile container forming part ofthe machine and which may be of any approved or desired type.

Another object of the invention is to provide improvements in textiletreating machines of the type embodying an oscillatory drum, whereby thedrum may be readily inserted in proper location .in the tub, or 25removed therefrom and upon its replacement in the tub to be readilyconnected in operative relation to the power driving means. the meanswhereby the connection is made according to the present inventionconsisting of a novel form of clutch device which is adapted to belocked by a lateral shifting motion of the drum.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel form of wringeroperating mechanism which is particularly adapted for association withthe operating mechanism for the drum so as to be driven at will from theprime mover common to both the associated mechanism and the wringer.

These and other objects are accomplished by what I now regard as themost preferred embodiment of my invention from among other possibleforms and arrangements embraced within the spirit of the invention andcomprehending improvements in gen-' eral details of construction and thearrangement of correlated parts to be hereinafter setforth andparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. I is a view in side elevation of atextile treating machine embodying my improvements and showing one sidewall broken away to disclose interior details.

Fig. II, is a view in enlarged vertical section taken on the line H-IIof Fig. I. I

Fig. III, is a view of the drum in end elevation illustrating one of thetrunnions and a shifting means therefor.

Fig. IV, is a detail view in enlarged section taken on the line IVIV ofFig. III.

Fig. V, is a view in side elevation of the driving mechanism for thewringer.

Fig. V1, is a view in section taken on line 1 I-VI of Fig. V.

Fig. VII is a vertical sectional view taken through the textile treatingmachine and looking towards the left hand of Fig. I.

\V ith reference to the drawings, 10 indicates a tub of any approvedconstruction supported upon a frame work 11 and including an uprightrear wall 12 which is selected to provide a support for the drivingmechanism. An angular bracket 13 is fixed to the outer surface of thewall 12 for the purpose of supporting upon a horizontal ledge anelectric motor let having a protruding shaft 15 which extends into anopening formed in the wall 12 for the purpose of connection to a gearingor the like forming part of the driving mechanism and whicn may consistof a worm 16 which is thus located interiorly of the tub and in meshingengagement with a worm wheel 17. The wheel 17 may be supported upon astub shaft 18 in turn journalled in a sleeve 19, the latter extendingthrough aligned openings formed in the opposing flanges 20 of a channelbracket 21 which is atlixe'd to the bracket 13 by spot welding or in anyother approved fashion.

In this manner the driving gear 16, 17 and motor 14 are fixed in propermeshing relation and are supported as a unit upon the wall 12 of thetub; A pin 22 projects eccentrically from the face of the worm wheel 17and receives the perforated end of a pitman rod 23, the opposite end ofwhich hugs the adjacent wall of the tub 10 and extends toward the centerof rotation of a closed drum or textile container indicatedcomprehensively by the numeral 24 and which may be of any approveddesign or construction, being shown in the present in stance ascylindrical in formation with opposed flat sides in which openingsnotshownare provided for the insertion of material to be treated as will beobvious to anyone acquainted with the art. The drum is preferably formedof perforated sheet metal as fragmentarily indicated in Fig. IV topermit the free circulation of water therethrough.

The drum 2% is further provided at its ends with a pair of alignedtrunnions and 26, the former resting in an opening formed in a dependingbracket 27 secured to the inner face of the adjacent wall of the tub 10,said bracket beingformed with an under hangin semi-circular lip 28 uponwhich the trunnion 25 rests so as to permit the drum 2-l to be readilylifted from the tub 10 when desired. Also fitted within the opening ofthe bracket 27 in alignment with the trunnion 25 is an axial stud 29which extends laterally from one end ofa link 3O the opposite end ofsaid link having a laterally projecting stud 31 which is seated in theperforated end of the aforesaid pitman rod' The trunnion 25 is formedupon the face of a plate 32 which is secured to the end wall of the drum2% an d is provided at one end with an opening 33 adapted to receive thestud 31 when the latter is brought into registration therewith, saidopening however being slightly larger in diameter than the diameter ofthe stud 31 for a purpose to be pres ently noted.

The meeting faces of the trunnion 25 and stud 29 are cut away atopposite sides to form complementary interlocking lugs 34, and recessesthe relation of which are such as to permit interlocking engagement onlywhen the stud 31 is brought opposite the opening 33. To insure rigidityof structure the bracket 27 is riveted to the wall of the tub 10 throughthe medium of an angle bar which is applied to the outer face of the tubwall and through the medium of rivets or other fastening means 36 whichalso serve to secure one end of a depending finger 37, the opposite endof which rests against the outer surface of the tub wall at a pointdirectly opposite the stud 29, so as to prevent dislodgment of the studfrom the bracket by outward flexing of the tub wall which in manyinstances may be sheet metal. The opposite trunnion 26 rests in abifurcated bracket 38 which is supported upon a channel bar 39 extendinghorizontally and hugging the inner surface of the adjacent tub wall. Thebracket 38 supports for rotation one end of a shaft 4:0 which is housedwithin the flanges of the channel bar projects through the end wall ofthe tub and is provided with a right angular extension 41 forming ahandle whereby the shaft may be rocked. A finger 42 is fixed to theinner end of the shaft and its extremity is seated nsvaoss within anotch &8 formed in the underside of the trunnion 26 so that the drum maybe shifted axially byrocking the shaft through the medium of its handleportion.

Rotation of the motor 14 is transmitted through the meshing gears 16 and17 and translated into oscillatory motion for transmission to the drum24 so that the latter is rocked and the material contained thereinthoroughly agitated. It will be noted that the drum 24 may be readilylifted from the tub for the purpose of cleaning or repair by merelyrocking the arm il-l so as to shift said drum laterally or in otherwords to mutually disengz'ige the studs 25 and 29 and to withdraw thestud 31 from the opening 33. The drum 2i may now be lifted as thesupporting elements 28, for the trunnions 25. are open at the top andreadily permit release of said trunnions therefrom.

After the drum 24. is replaced the arm 4-]. is again rocked to shiftsaid drum axially into position wherein the studs 25 and 29 areinterlocked, having previously adjusted the drum by rocking in eitherdirection with the hand until the stud 31 is brought opposite theopening so that the stud may then enter the opening. In this manner thedrum 2% is locked to the driving mechanism at two places namely;centrally at the trunnion 25 and eccentric-ally at the stud 81. Owing tothe enlarged aperature of the opening with respect to the stud 31. aslight loss of motion is permitted between the drum and the stud 31.limited by engagement of the latter with the walls of the opening sothat at the end of each period of oscillation. the drum 2i may begradually brought to rest before r-eversii'ig its movement thus avoidingany strain upon the motor and gearing.

It will be apparent that the driving mechanism described may be adaptednot only to washing machines but to any other a 'iparatus embodying anelement designed to be rotated or oscillated and which entailsseparation from the remainder of the apparatus or disengagement from thedriving mechanism. In lieu of the specific drum shifting mechanismdescribed I may employ any other type of mechanism found suitable orconvenient for the purpose.

The present invention also embodies a novel form of operating means fora clothes wringer and I have disclosed a p 'eferred form of mechanismwhich is adapted par ticularly for use in connection with the drivingmechanism described above. \Vith reference to Figures V and VI wherein Ihave illustrated the wringer mechanism, 45 indicates a bracket which maybe of any desired configuration and applied to the inner face of the tubwall 12 and is preferably held by means of the same fastners whichsecure the motor bracket 13. Supill ported in the bracket is a sleeve 46en closing a shaft 47, the lower end of which is supplied with a beveledgear 48 in H'lQSlling relation with a beveled gear 49 applied or cast toone side -face of the worm wheel 17. The upper end of the sleeve it;protrades beyond the edge of the tub 1.0 and supports a block 50 whichis freely rotatable about said sleeve and which rests upon the bracket45.. An arm 51 extends from the block 50 for the purpose of supportingthe clothes wringer indicated at 52, one of the rolls of which issupplied with an operating shaft 53. extending toward the block 50 andentering a housing 54lforming part of said block 50 designed to containa set of reversing gears which includes abeveled gear 55 fixed to theupper end of the-shaft 4157, and a pair of gears'56 which are slidablymounted upon the shaft 53 and are connected by means of a sleeve 57,whereby they may be shifted in unison to engage alternately the gear 55.

The shifting of the gears 56 is brought about by means of a pair ofoppositely extending fingers 58 which are carried by a shaft 59 mountedin the side wall of the casing 54 and which is rocked by means or ahandle 60. Thus, the wringer mechanism may be swung around the sleeve 46as a center of rotation and brought into any desirable position whileretaining its mechanism in operative relation to the drive at all times.The wringer mechanism may however be held in any adjusted position bymeans of a set screw 61 which is threadedly engaged in a lateral bossformed on the block 50, the set screw engaging the sleeve 46. The motorand wringer drive being thus mounted. at opposite sides of the tub walleffect a. mutual balance which avoids lateral strain upon the wall.

Thus, the power of the motor 14 is trans mitted through the gearing 4Sand 4.9 to the shaft 47 and through the reversing gears 56 to the rollerot the wringer, directional rotation of which may be altered by rockingthe arm. 60. The wringer may be disconnected from the driving mechanismby centralizing the gears 56 so that neither will be in meshingengagement with the gear Owing to the fact that the gears are alllocated within the tub 10 they are lubricated by the soapy water and aremoreover thus guarded or hidden so as to prevent injury or accidentwhich might occur it the gears were located exterior-ally.

Owing to the provision of the clutch mechanism it will be seen that thedrum 2% may be brought into such a position that its flat side is levelwith the top edge of the tub 10, thus making it more convenient toinsert or remove the clothing. The tub 10 may be provided with a fiatcover if desired with afview to making tl e machine available as a tableor support.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim:

1. A machine for treating textiles com prising a tub including avertical wall, an oscillatable container journaled therein, a bracketsecured exteriorly to the tub wall, a motor supported by the bracket andhaving its shaft extended through an opening in said wall, an extensionfrom the bracket into the tub to journal a direct drive from said motor,and a power translating connection between the direct crive andcontainer whereby the latter is oscillated.

2. In a textile treating machine, an enclosure, an oscillatablecontainer having trunnions mounted therein, a. motor rigidly supportedexteriorly ot' the enclosure, means directly lriven by said motor forco-action with one of said trunnions to oscillate the container, meanswhereby the container may be laterally shifted for removal andreplacement, and means serving to lock the conainer in operativeconnection with the driving means subsequent to replacement.

3. In a textile treating machine, an enclosule an oscillata'blecontainer therein, trunnions extending from the container, one of whichis segmentallycut away, means supporting the trunnions in the enclosure,a driving mechanism and a power translating linkage having a segmentalstud effective upon axial shitting movement of the container toestablish an operative connection with the driving mechanism.

i. In a textile treating machine, an enclosure, a container oscillatablymounted therein by a pair of axially aligned trunnions, one of saidtrunnions being cut away to provide a segmental stud and the othercircumferentially notched, brackets within the enclosure supporting thetrunnions. an operating mechanism including a driven member having asegmental stud mounted in one of said brackets in alignment with the cutaway trunnion, and means co-operative with the notched trunnion toeliect a lateral shifting of the container in one direction to bringsaid studs into locking and power transmitting engagement by the drivenmember.

In a textile treating machine a rotatable container adapted for lateralmovement, and a power translating mechanism including a member disposedadjacent the container and adapted when the latter is shifted laterallyto engage the container at a point coinciding with the axis of rotationand at a point eccentrically disposed to impart motion to saidcontainer.

6. In a textile treating machine,- a driving mechanism including amember oscillatable about one of its ends, a container having eapacityor lateral movement, means for laterally shifting the container, meansfor connecting said container with the axis o: uscillation of theaforesaid member, and means for connecting the free end of said memberto the container at a point eccentric to its axis of rotation.

7. In a textile treating machine, a driving mechanism including apivotal member hav. ing its free end adapted for orbital rotation, astud provided at the free end of said member, an oscillatable containerhaving capacity for lateral morement, means adapted upon lateralmovement of said container to lock the latter to the pivotal member atits axis of rotation, and said container having an opening adapted toreceive the aforesaid stud, whereby the pivotal member is engaged Withthe container at axial and eccentric points.

8. In a textile treating machine, an enclosure, a container mountedtherein including trunnions, brackets supporting said trunnions, a linkjournaled in one of said brackets and having laterally projecting studs,means for efl'ecting a locking connection between said studs and thecontainer, and a power translating mechanism operatively connectablewith the free end of the link for imparting oscillatory motion thereto.

9. In a textile treating machine, an enclosure, acontainer mountedtherein by trunnions, brackets supporting said trun nions and permittinglateral movement of the container, a power translating mechanism, and amanually actuable shifter means co-operative With one trunnion tomovethe container and effect an interlocking connection between the othertrunnion and the power translating n'iecl'ianism, and vice versa.

10. In a textile treating machine, an enclosure, a container mountedtherein having a pair of trunnions one of Which is circumt'orentiallynotched, brackets supporting the trunnions, a shaft, a linger carried bythe shaft in operative engagement with the notched part of the aforesaidtrunnion for shifting the container laterally, a driving mechanism, andmeans etiective upon said shifting movement to operatively connect theother trunnion and container with the driving mechanism.

11. In a textile treating machine, an oscillating container having aneccentric recess, a power translating mechanism including a memberentering said recess of a lesser diameter than the recess so as topermit lost motion between said member and container when rerersing thedirection of movement of the container.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Philadelphia,Pennsylvania, this third day of August, 1922.

OLIVER S. IVRIG-HT.

